By James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

WWE World Hvt. champion Daniel Bryan says he does feel validated being in the World Title match at WrestleMania this year after his match against Sheamus was bumped from WM27 last year. Instead, he feels like his career validation came in Ring of Honor in 2008 and will come in the future in WWE when he headlines a major event like WrestleMania.

"Actually, the biggest sense of validation I ever got was (ROH) Final Battle 2008 against Morishima and we sold out 2,500 people in New York City. Because, that was me. Me and Morishima sold that out, and Ring of Honor," Bryan told "Busted Open" satellite radio hosts Doug Mortman and Dave LaGreca at a WrestleMania Axxess interview session Friday. "Selling this out is Cena and Rock. I want to be at the point here where I'm the one selling this out. That will be validation where I am the man in WWE."

Bryan suggested one of the ways he can achieve that status is developing his larger-than-life persona. He said not having that persona when he started in WWE is one reason why he believes management was not high on him.

"I've always prided myself on just being a regular human being, and I think that's one of the things they didn't like about me here in WWE. They want larger-than-life Superstars, and, on TV, I feel like I can be that. But, if I'm just talking to you backstage, I'm not going to be that. That's not who I am as a person," Bryan said.

As for facing Sheamus in the World Title match this year after their match was bumped to the Dark Match last year, Bryan joked that there may be an even greater outrage if they're bumped to the Dark Match this year. But, he echoed recent comments from Sheamus about them using last year's experience to propel a resurgence from 2011 to 2012.

"It is amazing when you come full circle," Bryan said. "After Elimination Chamber when I realized I would be in the World Hvt. Title match and it would be against Sheamus, I think even though we're not necessarily friends, we both have a mutual respect for each other in the sense that we've been through a lot in the last year and we were so disappointed with that and hopefully this year is better."

Audio: A three-minute clip of Bryan's interview can be heard at Posterous.com . URL: http://bit.ly/HzsCXz ]

[Torch art credit Travis Beaven (c) PWTorch.com]

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